U.S. patent application number 11/399455 was filed with the patent office on 2006-10-26 for mechanism for providing residual thrust load on chuck actuating screw.
Invention is credited to Warren A. Ceroll, Robert S. Gehret, Richard J. Heavel, Daniel Puzio, Craig A. Schell.
Application Number | 20060237917 11/399455 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37186046 |
Filed Date | 2006-10-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060237917 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Puzio; Daniel ; et
al. |
October 26, 2006 |
Mechanism for providing residual thrust load on chuck actuating
screw
Abstract
A tool chuck may include an input shaft. A chuck actuating shaft
may be mounted for rotation on the input shaft. A chuck actuating
screw may be screw coupled to the chuck actuating shaft. A spring
may be interposed between the chuck actuating shaft and the input
shaft. Upon tightening the tool chuck, the spring may be compressed
to provide force against the chuck actuating screw.
Inventors: |
Puzio; Daniel; (Baltimore,
MD) ; Gehret; Robert S.; (Hampstead, MD) ;
Ceroll; Warren A.; (Owings Mills, MD) ; Schell; Craig
A.; (Street, MD) ; Heavel; Richard J.;
(Hanover, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HARNESS, DICKEY & PIERCE, P.L.C.
P.O. BOX 8910
RESTON
VA
20195
US
|
Family ID: |
37186046 |
Appl. No.: |
11/399455 |
Filed: |
April 7, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60672862 |
Apr 20, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
279/110 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 279/19 20150115;
B23B 31/1253 20130101; B23B 2260/136 20130101; Y10T 279/17615
20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
279/110 |
International
Class: |
B23B 31/16 20060101
B23B031/16 |
Claims
1. A tool chuck comprising: an input shaft; a chuck actuating shaft
mounted for rotation on the input shaft; a chuck actuating screw
screw coupled to the chuck actuating shaft; and a residual clamping
force mechanism interposed between the chuck actuating shaft and
the input shaft; the residual clamping force mechanism being
compressible to provide force against the chuck actuating
screw.
2. The tool chuck according to claim 1, further comprising: a
thrust bearing interposed between the residual clamping force
mechanism and the input shaft.
3. The tool chuck according to claim 2, wherein the thrust bearing
is a plurality of rolling elements.
4. The tool chuck according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of
rolling elements is provided in a carrier.
5. The tool chuck according to claim 1, wherein the residual
clamping force mechanism is a spring.
6. The tool chuck according to claim 5, wherein the spring is a
belleville spring.
7. A tool chuck comprising: an input shaft; a chuck actuating shaft
mounted for rotation on the input shaft; chuck actuating screw
screw coupled to the chuck actuating shaft; and clamping force
means for compressing to provide force against the chuck actuating
screw.
8. The tool chuck according to claim 7, further comprising: a
thrust bearing interposed between the clamping force means and the
input shaft.
9. The tool chuck according to claim 8, wherein the thrust bearing
is a plurality of rolling elements.
10. The tool chuck according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of
rolling elements is provided in a carrier.
11. The tool chuck according to claim 7, wherein the clamping force
means is a spring.
12. The tool chuck according to claim 11, wherein the spring is a
belleville spring.
13. A tool chuck comprising: an input shaft; a chuck actuating
shaft mounted for rotation on the input shaft; a chuck actuating
screw coupled to the chuck actuating shaft; and a spring interposed
between the chuck actuating shaft and the input shaft.
14. The tool chuck according to claim 13, further comprising: a
thrust bearing interposed between the spring and the input
shaft.
15. The tool chuck according to claim 14, wherein the thrust
bearing is a plurality of rolling elements.
16. The tool chuck according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of
rolling elements is provided in a carrier.
17. The tool chuck according to claim 13, wherein the spring is a
belleville spring.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This U.S. non-provisional application clams priority under
35 USC .sctn.119 to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/672,862
filed Apr. 20, 2005, the content of which is incorporated herein in
its entirety by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] Example, non-limiting embodiments of the present invention
relate in general to tool chucks for attachment of accessories to
power drivers, and more particularly to a tool chuck having a
spring that may provide residual thrust load on a chuck actuating
screw.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Once tight, a non-self-tightening tool chuck may loosen as
the accessory material yields and the grip interface loosens.
[0006] Pusher-type tool chuck technology may be of the
self-tightening variety. That is, as application torque increases,
the torque tightening the tool chuck may increase to that
application torque. For some applications, the tightening torque
that results may be several times higher than torques achieved
manually. While this tends to make the pusher-type tool chuck more
costly and heavy, it may be effective at reducing accessory slip
and fall out.
[0007] Some tool chucks may be actuated (to open and close the
chuck jaws) via a power take off ("PTO") feature. Tool chucks with
various PTO features are described in commonly-assigned, copending
provisional Application entitled "TOOL CHUCK WITH POWER TAKE OFF
AND DEAD SPINDLE FEATURES," filed Apr. 19, 2005, U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/672,503 (the "copending provisional
application"). The content of the copending provisional application
is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
SUMMARY
[0008] According to an example, non-limiting embodiments, a tool
chuck may include an input shaft. A chuck actuating shaft may be
mounted for rotation on the input shaft. A chuck actuating screw
may be screw coupled to the chuck actuating shaft. A residual
clamping force mechanism may be interposed between the chuck
actuating shaft and the input shaft. The residual clamping force
mechanism may be compressible to provide force against the chuck
actuating screw.
[0009] According to another example, non-limiting embodiment, a
tool chuck may include an input shaft. A chuck actuating shaft may
be mounted for rotation on the input shaft. A chuck actuating screw
may be screw coupled to the chuck actuating shaft. Clamping force
means may be provided for compressing to provide force against the
chuck actuating screw.
[0010] According to another example, non-limiting embodiments, a
tool chuck may include an input shaft. A chuck actuating shaft may
be mounted for rotation on the input shaft. A chuck actuating screw
may be coupled to the chuck actuating shaft. A spring may be
interposed between the chuck actuating shaft and the input
shaft.
[0011] The above and other features of the invention including
various and novel details of construction and combinations of parts
will now be more particularly described with reference to the
accompanying drawings. It will be understood that the details of
the example embodiments are shown by way of illustration only and
not as limitations of the invention. The principles and features of
this invention may be employed in varied and numerous embodiments
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] Example, non-limiting embodiments of the present invention
will become more fully understood from the detailed description
below and the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are
represented by like reference numerals, which are given by way of
illustration only and thus are not limiting of the present
invention.
[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of tool chuck sub-assembly
implementing a residual clamping force mechanism according to an
example, non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the tool chuck sub-assembly
shown in FIG. 1 and in a loose condition.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the tool chuck sub-assembly
shown in FIG. 1 and in a tightened condition.
DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE, NON-LIMITING EMBODIMENTS
[0016] A PTO feature may be implemented using a pusher-type tool
chuck. The pusher-type tool chuck may be non-self-tightening. The
PTO system may tighten the tool chuck and then lock. To eliminate
slip and fall out, the PTO system may include a residual clamping
force mechanism 100 as shown in FIGS. 1-3.
[0017] FIG. 1 shows a portion of a tool chuck subassembly of the
PTO system. Those skilled in the art will recognize the chuck
actuating screw 55 and understand how it interacts with the chuck
actuating shaft 64 to actuate the chuck jaws (not shown). The
clamping force mechanism 100 may store energy in a compression
element and then provide a residual force against the chuck
actuating screw 55 (and thus the back of the chuck jaws).
[0018] By way of example only, the clamping force mechanism 100 may
be in the form of a spring, which may be positioned between the
pusher screw system (inclusive of the chuck actuating screw 55 and
the chuck actuating shaft 64) and the input shaft 60. In this
example embodiment, the spring may be a belleville spring 102. In
alternative embodiments, numerous and varied springs (other than a
belleville spring) that are well known in this art may be suitably
implemented.
[0019] The clamping force mechanism 100 may be combined with a
thrust bearing 104. The thrust bearing 104 may be positioned at an
interface between the belleville spring 102 and the input shaft 60.
The thrust bearing 104 may include a plurality of balls. The balls
may be conjoined via a carrier (for example), or they may be loose.
In this way, the belleville spring 102 and an annular recess
provided in the input shaft 60 may act as bearing races.
[0020] FIG. 2 shows the pusher screw system in a loose (or not
completely tight) condition. Here, the belleville spring 102 may
not be fully compressed. The lines of force acting through the
thrust bearing 104 are shown as arrows F.
[0021] FIG. 3 shows the pusher screw system in a tight (or nearly
tight condition). The lines of force acting through the thrust
bearing 104 are shown as arrows F.
[0022] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the pusher
screw system may be tightened via a relative rotation between the
chuck actuating shaft 64 and the chuck actuating screw 55, which
may cause the chuck actuating screw 55 to advance axially and
relative to the chuck actuating shaft 64. The translational
movement of the chuck actuating screw 55 may push on the chuck jaws
to close the same upon an accessory. When the chuck jaws clamp the
accessory, a further relative rotation between the chuck actuating
shaft 64 and the chuck actuating screw 55 may cause the chuck
actuating shaft 64 to retract in an axial direction and against the
influence of the belleville spring 102. As a result, the belleville
spring 102 may become compressed, as shown in FIG. 3
[0023] By comparing FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be appreciated that the
lines of force (arrows F) may change direction as the pusher system
tightens. The input shaft 60 may include an internal torroidal
surface to provide a bearing race that may accommodate this change
in bearing loading as the tool chuck is tightened.
[0024] In the disclosed example embodiments, the residual clamping
force mechanism 100 is in the form of a spring. In alternative
embodiments, numerous and varied structures (other than springs)
may be suitably implemented as the residual clamping force
mechanism. Such structures may include, but are not limited to a
gas filled bladder and an elastically deformable body. Such
alternative structures may be combined with the thrust bearing 104
by providing such structures with a washer (for example) that may
serve as a bearing race.
* * * * *